If your cat or dog has just chewed a plant, stop reading and call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435. Take the plant or a clear photo with you. The rest of this page is for checking plants before they come home.
Below are common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic, grouped by what makes them toxic. For each we give the clinical signs the ASPCA entry lists. We only describe severity where the ASPCA or FDA does. We give no fatality figures, because the sources do not give them.
True lilies and cats: the one to know first
The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is blunt: lilies in the “true lily” and “daylily” families are “very dangerous for cats.” Its page makes these points:
- The whole plant is toxic. That includes stem, leaves, flowers, pollen and even the water in a vase.
- Small exposures count. Eating a little leaf or petal, licking pollen off fur, or drinking vase water can cause fatal kidney failure in under 3 days.
- Timeline. Early signs (less activity, drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite) start 0 to 12 hours after ingestion. Kidney damage signs, such as increased urination and dehydration, start at about 12 to 24 hours. Kidney failure follows at 24 to 72 hours if untreated.
- Speed matters. Early treatment greatly improves the outlook. If treatment is delayed 18 hours or more, the cat will generally have irreversible kidney failure.
- Dogs differ. Dogs may get minor stomach upset but do not develop kidney failure. The toxin is unidentified and only affects cats.
The FDA names Asiatic, Easter, Japanese show, Oriental, rubrum, stargazer, tiger and wood lilies, plus daylilies. The ASPCA’s Lilium and daylily entries list them as toxic to cats, with the toxic principle “unknown.” Their listed signs are vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure and death. The FDA’s advice is not to bring these lilies into a home with a cat, including cut-flower bouquets.
Two other “lilies” are dangerous to both cats and dogs, per the FDA. Lily-of-the-valley can cause a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm; the ASPCA lists cardenolides as the toxin. Gloriosa (flame) lily roots and tubers can cause multi-system organ failure.
Plants with insoluble calcium oxalates
These are mostly aroids, and they include many of the most popular foliage plants. Chewing releases needle-like crystals that irritate the mouth. The FDA says that for peace lily and calla lily the signs “usually go away on their own,” and that breathing problems from swelling are uncommon.
| Plant (ASPCA entry) | Toxic to | Signs the ASPCA lists |
|---|---|---|
| Peace lily (Spathiphyllum) | Dogs, cats | Oral irritation, intense burning of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) | Dogs, cats | As peace lily |
| Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) | Dogs, cats, horses | Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing |
| Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) | Dogs, cats | As peace lily |
| Dieffenbachia | Dogs, cats | As peace lily; also contains a proteolytic enzyme |
| Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum) | Dogs, cats, horses | As heartleaf philodendron |
The ASPCA lists calla lily, arrowhead vine (Syngonium), caladium and flamingo flower (Anthurium) with the same toxic principle. For the peace lily specifically, see our peace lily and NASA page.
Plants with saponins
| Plant (ASPCA entry) | Toxic to | Signs the ASPCA lists |
|---|---|---|
| Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) | Dogs, cats | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea |
| Corn plant and other dracaenas (Dracaena fragrans, Dracaena spp.) | Dogs, cats | Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils in cats |
| English ivy (Hedera helix) | Dogs, cats, horses | Vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, diarrhoea; foliage more toxic than berries |
| Aloe (Aloe vera) | Dogs, cats, horses | Vomiting, lethargy, diarrhoea; also contains anthraquinones. The ASPCA notes the gel is considered edible |
Plants that can affect the heart or nervous system
| Plant (ASPCA entry) | Toxic principle | Signs the ASPCA lists |
|---|---|---|
| Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) | Cycasin | Vomiting, melena (black stool), jaundice, increased thirst, bloody gastroenteritis, bruising, clotting problems, liver damage, liver failure, death |
| Kalanchoe | Bufodienolides | Vomiting, diarrhoea; abnormal heart rhythm (rare) |
| Cyclamen | Terpenoid saponins | Salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea. After large ingestions of tubers: heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures, death |
| Amaryllis | Lycorine and others | Vomiting, depression, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors |
| Jade plant (Crassula) | Unknown | Vomiting, depression, incoordination |
Sago palm is often sold as a houseplant and is listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Its ASPCA entry is the only one in this section that names liver failure.
Entries the ASPCA describes as milder
The ASPCA flags some plants as less serious than their reputation:
- Poinsettia. Irritant sap that irritates the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, “but generally over-rated in toxicity.”
- Umbrella tree (Schefflera). Contains terpenoids, saponins and insoluble oxalates, but “the most common effects seen are mild vomiting and diarrhea.”
- Asparagus fern. Allergic skin reactions with repeated contact; eating the berries can cause stomach upset.
- Weeping fig and other Ficus. Listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ficin and ficusin). The entry lists no specific clinical signs.
“Milder” still means a vet call if your pet is unwell or ate a lot.
How to use this list
- Identify by botanical name. Common names mislead. A peace lily and an Easter lily share a word but not a toxin. Check the plant label, then the ASPCA entry for that species.
- Check the right animal. Several lilies are toxic to cats but listed as non-toxic to dogs.
- Treat cut flowers like plants. Bouquets, pollen and vase water all count with lilies.
- Keep the label. If an exposure happens, the botanical name saves time.
Looking for replacements? Our pet-safe plants guide lists houseplants the ASPCA rates as non-toxic, sorted by the light you have.
References
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine: Lovely Lilies and Curious Cats: A Dangerous Combination
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Toxic and non-toxic plants list, cats and dogs
- ASPCA plant entries: Lily, Easter Lily, Day Lilies, Lily of the Valley, Sago Palm, Peace Lily, Golden Pothos, Heartleaf Philodendron, Swiss Cheese Plant, Dieffenbachia, Chinese Evergreen, Snake Plant, Corn Plant, English Ivy, Aloe, Kalanchoe, Cyclamen, Amaryllis, Jade Plant, Poinsettia, Umbrella Tree, Asparagus Fern